Finance Committee approves small appropriations, authorizes urban forestry grant application

The Newark City Council Finance Committee on Feb. 18 approved four budget moves and agreed to seek state funding for tree planting.

The committee approved a $6,000 appropriation to cover transit passes previously purchased for a defender program; an $11,026.94 appropriation tied to a Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) grant for equipment for recently delivered fire apparatus; a $1,000 appropriation under the BWC PEP grant to buy signage for a city division; and it advanced a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for the State of Ohio 2025 Urban Forestry Grant. All votes were unanimous.

The items were presented during the Finance Committee meeting, which began with a staff summary of current balances: an unappropriated balance of $365,731 and a budget stabilization fund balance of $698,128. The $6,000 request covered transit passes the city has been buying for a defender program since February 2016; the presenter said the city had held the item out of the biennial budget to monitor needs. The BWC grant appropriation covers miscellaneous equipment that arrived with new fire apparatus, and the PEP grant funds will buy signage for the city division identified in the request.

Committee discussion of the urban forestry grant focused on planning and procurement. Staff said the grant would reimburse a percentage of tree-planting costs if the city is successful and that the city is in early planning, including getting cost estimates. The presenter said a vendor could plant the trees because the Parks Division is stretched; the committee discussed seeking competitive bids if the grant is awarded. A committee member asked whether the Soil and Water Conservation district would provide forestry planning; staff answered the city is not required to use that office and must follow the grant's planting guidelines.

All four appropriations and the resolution were moved and seconded in committee and recorded as passing by voice vote, 5–0. The committee chair then adjourned the Finance Committee session.

Votes at a glance - Appropriation: $6,000 for transit passes (purpose: defender transit passes). Motion: moved by Barker; seconded by Hauser. Outcome: passed 5–0. - Resolution: authorize mayor to apply for State of Ohio 2025 Urban Forestry Grant (purpose: tree planting). Motion: moved by Barker; seconded by Hauser. Outcome: passed 5–0. - Appropriation: $11,026.94 (BWC grant; equipment for fire apparatus). Motion: moved by Barker; seconded by Hauser. Outcome: passed 5–0. - Appropriation: $1,000 (PEP grant; signage). Motion: moved by Barker; seconded by Hauser. Outcome: passed 5–0.

The committee forwarded all items to full council as recommended.